Short Science Summary: European Migratory Soaring Birds and Wind Energy Development

Common Kestrel

Some birds, such as raptors and vultures, have large wings relative to their body size, providing good lift in rising air currents. Soaring birds can sustain flight for long periods without flapping their wings, but are largely dependent on ascending currents resulting from the uneven warming of the Earth’s surface or the wind blowing over mountain ridges. Collisions of large soaring bird with wind turbines are of particular conservation concern, given that they are long-lived, have low reproductive rates with few eggs in each clutch, and invest considerable time in rearing their young. This summary represents a general overview of the research, produced by WREN under IEA Wind. A list of the sources used to develop this Short Science Summary is also available here.

The table below contains the literature relevant to this summary document and will continue to be updated as new literature is added to Tethys.

Title Author Date Content Type Technology Stressor Receptor
Mapping avian sensitivity to support onshore wind energy development and bird conservation in two European countries Biasotto, L., Serratosa, J., Clark, B., Vulcano, A., Bobrek, R., Celada, C., Gaibani, G., Gustin, M., Krogulec, J., Staneva, A., Stasiak, K., Allinson, T. Journal Article Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Avoidance, Collision, Displacement, Habitat Change Birds
An individual-based model to quantify the non-breeding season impact of wind farms on seabirds Buckingham, L., Masden, E. , Layton-Matthews, K., Bringsvor, I., Bråthen, V., Dehnhard, N., Fauchald, P., Lorentsen, S., Reiertsen, T., Searle, K., Tarroux, A., Christensen-Dalsgaard, S. Journal Article Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Displacement Birds, Seabirds
Long-Term Decline in Bird Collisions at Operational Wind Farms: Evidence from Systematic Monitoring to Support Sustainable Wind Energy Development (2010–2024) Yordanov, N., Zehtindjiev, P., Whitfield, D. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Collision Birds
Bird and bat mortality at wind farms in South America: Lessons from monitoring and mitigation practices in Chile Santander, F., Morant, J., Perez-Garcia, J. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Collision Bats, Birds
Assessment of seabird vulnerability to offshore wind farms in China Cheng, C., Yao, W., He, Y., Shi, J., Song, M., Wang, Y., Jiang, C., Liu, B., Zhao, L., Ren, J. Journal Article Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Collision, Displacement Birds, Seabirds
Floating Offshore Wind Dynamic Cable EMF Environmental Review ORE Catapult, Evolv Energies, St Abbs Marine Station Report Wind Energy, Floating Offshore Wind EMF Birds, Fish, Invertebrates, Marine Mammals
German Bird Study Finds 99% Avoid Turbines, SunZia Progress Hall, A., Barnes, R., Saxum, J., Totaro, P. Podcast Wind Energy Collision Birds
System Dynamics And Performance Prediction Of A Wind-Powered Acoustic Bird Deterrent System Ufuouma, O., Ekenna, E., Maxwell, O., Collins, N. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Collision Birds
The occurrence and breeding success of Red-throated Loon Gavia stellata and Black-throated Loon Gavia arctica in the vicinity of land-based wind turbines Eriksson, M. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Displacement Birds
Uncertainty and approaches to evaluating uncertainty (WP1): AssESs - Assessing the extent and significance of uncertainty in offshore wind assessments Furness, R.W., Searle, K., Jones, E., Delacombe, K., Butler, A. Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Attraction, Avoidance, Collision, Displacement, Habitat Change Birds, Seabirds
Recommendations and Roadmap (WP4): AssESs - Assessing the extent and significance of uncertainty in offshore wind assessments Butler, A., Lorenzo-Arribas, A., Hague, A., Searle, K., Daunt, F., Furness, R.W., Matthiopoulos, J., Miller, S.C., Couto, A.S., Delacombe, K., Jones, E.L. Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Avoidance, Collision, Displacement, Habitat Change Birds, Seabirds, Human Dimensions, Legal & Policy, Stakeholder Engagement
The Poseidon Wind Farm: Bird Migration at Skagen and The West Coast Of Sweden – Spring 2024 Christensen, T., Bladt, J., Petersen, I., Strandberg, R., Ortvad, T., Balsby, T. Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Birds
Summary report of sensitivity analysis (WP2): AssESs - Assessing the extent and significance of uncertainty in offshore wind assessments Butler, A., Matthiopoulos, J., Lorenzo-Arribas, A., Searle, K., Delacombe, K., Jones, E.L. Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Attraction, Avoidance, Collision, Displacement, Habitat Change Birds, Seabirds
Large-scale mapping of nocturnal bird migration to accelerate a nature-inclusive energy transition Hoekstra, B., Kranstauber, B., Bradaric, M., de Groeve, J., Shinneman, S., Wijers, B., Leijnse, H., van Gasteren, H., Dokter, A., van Loon, E., Shamoun-Baranes, J. Journal Article Wind Energy Collision Birds
Summary report of stakeholder engagement (WP3): AssESs - Assessing the extent and significance of uncertainty in offshore wind assessments Hague, A., Miller, S.C., Jones, E.L., Lorenzo-Arribas, A., Delacombe, K., Butler, A. Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Birds, Seabirds, Human Dimensions, Legal & Policy, Stakeholder Engagement
Impacts on birds from offshore wind farms in Australia: An ecological risk assessment Reid, K., Baker, G.B. Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Attraction, Avoidance, Collision, Displacement Birds
Projected changes to the extent and seasonality of seabird habitat in the California current and implications for marine spatial planning Gasbarro, R., Ainley, D., Andrews, K., Ballance, L., Blondin, H,, Bograd, S., Brodie, S., Cimino, M., Clay, T., Ellis, A., Evenson, J., Field, J., Hazen, E., Jacox, M., Jahncke, J., Joyce, T., Leirness, J., Lipski, D., Muhling, B., Lezama-Ochoa, M., Pozo Buil, N., Schonfeld, A., Warlick, A., Welch, H., Zamon, J., Zilliacus, K., Santora, J. Journal Article Wind Energy, Floating Offshore Wind Birds, Seabirds, Human Dimensions, Marine Spatial Planning
Overview of the potential ecological impacts of three offshore locations for wind farms in Aotearoa New Zealand McKinlay, B., van Helden, A., Taylor, G., Rodgers, K., Fischer, J., Duffy, C., Middlemiss, K. , Ogle, M., Pardo, E., Baxter, A. Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Attraction, Avoidance, Collision, Displacement, EMF, Entanglement, Noise, Vessel Strike Birds, Fish, Marine Mammals, Reptiles, Sea Turtles
Case-dependent impacts of offshore wind farms on ecosystems: A systematic review and meta-analysis Thomassen, J., Brown, E., Henriksen, O., Mildenberger, T., Galparsoro, I., Clausen, N., van Deurs, M. Journal Article Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind, Floating Offshore Wind Changes in Flow, Chemicals, Displacement, EMF, Habitat Change, Noise Birds, Ecosystem Processes, Fish, Invertebrates, Marine Mammals
Baseline surveys of Birds, Bats and Marine Mammals in areas for Offshore Wind Farms in the Danish North Sea (North Sea I): Bats – Baseline surveys 2023-2025 North Sea I Brinkløv, S., Smeele, S., Uebel, A., Grethen, K., Fjederholt, E., Elmeros, M. Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Bats, Birds
New frontiers in wind-wildlife monitoring systems Dempsey, L., Clerc, J., Hein, C. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Collision, Displacement Bats, Birds
The collision risk of migrating birds at wind farms: Final report VolZug project Liedtke, J., Bruneaux, M., Girndt, A., Welcker, J. Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind, Fixed Offshore Wind Attraction, Avoidance, Collision, Displacement, Lighting Birds
Foraging areas of coastal and offshore seabirds in the Dutch North Sea - An analysis of survey and tracking data Madden, H., van Bemmelen, R., van der Have, T., Fijn, R. Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Birds
Changes in the distribution and abundance of common scoter and diver species in the Horns Rev I, II and III offshore windfarm areas, Denmark, 2025 Scott-Hayward, L., Petersen, I., Mackenzie, M., Pedersen, C., Isojunno, S. , Nielsen, R., Sterup, J., Thomsen, H., Neergaard, R. Report Wind Energy Habitat Change Birds
Biodiversity biases in research and practice: Lessons from the Irish onshore wind sector King, E., Gorman, C., Stout, J., Buckley, Y., Donohue, I. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Attraction, Avoidance, Collision, Displacement, Habitat Change Birds, Ecosystem Processes, Invertebrates, Terrestrial Mammals, Human Dimensions
Offshore surveys of Birds, Bats and Marine Mammals for Offshore Wind Farms in Danish Waters, North Sea I for Year 2 Petersen, I., Thomsen, H., Scott-Hayward, L., Isojuuno, S., Kenzie, M., Grethen, K., Pedersen, C., Neergaard, R., Ortvad, T., Nielsen, R., Sterup, J. Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Bats, Birds, Marine Mammals
Wind Energy Interactions with Wildlife Answers to Frequently Asked Questions Based on the State of the Science Renewable Energy Wildlife Institute (REWI) Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Attraction, Avoidance, Collision, Noise Bats, Birds
3rd Edition: Summary of Bird Fatality Monitoring Data Contained in AWWIC Schauber, E., Butryn, R., Felton, S. Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Collision Birds
Baseline surveys of Birds, Bats and Marine Mammals in areas for Offshore Wind Farms in the Danish North Sea (North Sea I) Brinkløv, S., Smeele, S., Uebel, A., Grethen, K., Fjederholt, E., Elmeros, M. Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Bats, Birds, Marine Mammals
Evaluating aerial LiDAR and other approaches to avian flight height measurement– ReSCUE Project Validation Study Report Rhoades, J., Feather, A., Harwood, A., Banks, A., Boersch-Supan, P.H. Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Collision Birds, Seabirds
Accelerating technology development to monitor and minimize effects from land-based wind energy on birds and bats Gottlieb, I., Hein, C., Field, P., Allison, T. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Collision Bats, Birds
Opportunities and challenges for new technologies in seabird population monitoring Frederiksen, M., Layton-Matthews, K., Bennett, S., Castenschiold, J., Cruz-Flores, M., Edney, A., Fauchald, P., Franklin, K., Guímaro, H., Hereward, H., Johnston, D., Merkel, B., Molværsmyr, S., Sauser, C., Snell, K., Humphreys, E. Journal Article Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind, Floating Offshore Wind Birds, Seabirds
Bird Survival in Wind Farms by Monte-Carlo Simulation Modelling Based on Wide-Ranging Flight Tracking Data of Multiple Birds During Different Seasons Yordanov, N., Nabielek, H., Bedev, K., Zehtindjiev, P. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Avoidance, Collision Birds, Raptors
Project WOW Acoustic Sampling Strategies, Platforms, and Initial Results Nowacek, D., Rice, A., Southall, B., Murray, B., Adams, E., Jensen, F., Rosenbaum, H., Redfern, J., Haxel, J., Kohut, J., Williams, K., Thomas, L., Thorne, L., Fuentes, M., Halpin, P., Parks, S., Mooney, T. Conference Paper Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Noise Bats, Birds, Marine Mammals
Wind Farms and Power Lines: A Dual Threat to Seabirds in Brazil Revorêdo, R., Santana, V., Tavares-Damasceno, J., De Farias, D., Silva, F., Gavilan, S. Journal Article Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Collision Birds, Seabirds
Unravelling the relationship between digitalisation and sustainable energy transitions using socio-technical-ecological scripts Schmidt-Scheele, R., Mattes, J. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Collision Bats, Birds
ORJIP Closing the Loop: Recommendations and roadmap (D05) Jones, E., Hague, A., Booth, C., Skeate, E., Perrow, M., Searle, K., Scott-Hayward, L., Couto, A., Daunt, F., Miller, S., Lorenzo-Arribas, A., Hull, S., Sparling, C., Hastie, G., Delacombe, K., Butler, A. Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind, Floating Offshore Wind Birds, Marine Mammals, Human Dimensions, Legal & Policy
Assessment of Federal Offshore Wind Permitting and Environmental Review Processes Hartnett, M., Morandi, A., Reynolds, A. Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Bats, Birds, Marine Mammals, Human Dimensions, Fisheries, Legal & Policy, Visual Impacts
ORJIP Closing the Loop: Synthesis of evidence (D01) Jones, E.L., Hague, A., Skeate, E.R., Perrow, M., Searle, K.R., Scott-Hayward, L., Couto, A., Daunt, F., Miller, S., Delacombe, K., Wooldridge, T., Butler, A. Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind, Floating Offshore Wind Avoidance, Collision Birds, Human Dimensions, Environmental Impact Assessment, Legal & Policy
Revised Marine Bird Collision and Displacement Vulnerability Index for U.S. Pacific Outer Continental Shelf Offshore Wind Energy Development Kelsey, E., Felis, J., Pereksta, D., Adams, J. Report Wind Energy, Floating Offshore Wind Collision, Displacement Birds
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